Safety razor



1937- c. J. MCKENZIE 2,089,283

SAFETY RAZOR Filed April 19, 1954 liwenlor: Clarence lMsKbnzia Patented Aug. 10, 1937 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR Clarence J. McKenzie, Winthrop, Mass, assignor of three-tenths to Robert M. Price, Springfield, Mass.

Application April 19, 1934, Serial No. 721,335

17 Claims.

| to flex a blade interposed between these members.

Another object is the provision of a telescopic handleand means for locking the parts together when extended.

These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one'preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results-although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the-invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the'scope of the appended claims.

0f the drawing.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of a safety razor embodying the principles of the present invention, a portion thereof being shown in section.

Figure 2 represents a plan of the blade-supporting plate. 1'

Figure 3 represents an end elevation of the same. I

Figure 4 represents a plan of a razor blade designed for use in said safety razor.

Figure 5 represents an end elevation of the same.

Figure 6 represents a plan of the clamping or guard plate.

Figure 7 represents an inverted plan of the same.

Figure 8 represents a section of the same on line 8, 8 on Figs. 6 and 7, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 9 represents a transverse section of the same on line 9, 9 on Fig. 6. Figure 10 represents a transverse section of the blade-supporting plate on line I0, III on Fig. 2. Figure 11 represents an elevation of one end of the handle for said safety razor. I

Figure 12 represents a transverse section on line I2, I2 on Fig. 1, and

Figure 13 represents a plan of a modified form of blade.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing, I0 is a curved blade-supporting 5 plate having centrally disposed therein a socket II on opposite sides of which and at equal distances therefrom are blade-registering studs I2 extending from the inner face of said plate.

This plate II] has at opposite ends thereof depressions I3, the bottoms of which are inclined downwardly towards the ends of said plate.

These depressions I3 are adapted to receive inclined projections [4 formed upon a clamping plate or blade guard I5. I 15 Between the blade-supporting plate II] and the clamping plate I5 is interposed a thin flexible blade I6 capable of being flexed to a desired curvature between said plates I0 and I5.

This blade I6 preferably has parallel slits I! 2 formed in the ends thereof producing outwardly extending tongues I8.

The tongues I 8, inclined depressions I3 and inclined projections I4 are all of equal width.

A blade I6 may be registered on the plate II] by the studs I2 and then the clamping plate I5 superimposed on said blade.

When the parts are thus assembled and the clamping plate I 5 is forced toward the blade-supporting plate II), the inclined projections I4 will bend the tongues I8 downwardly into the depressions I3 with the side edges of the tongues I8 abutting the opposite walls of the depressions I3, and at the same time the sides of the projections I4 will abut the walls of said depressions I3. 35

When this has been done the blade will be positively locked in position with its edges parallel with the edges of the guard plate I5.

Instead of cutting slits I'I into the ends of the blade IE to form the tongues I8, these tongues I8 may be formed adjacent the ends of the blade I6 by making U-shaped incisions I9 therein as shown in Fig. 13.

In the latter case, the inclined projections I4 should be set in slightly from the ends of the 45 blade-clamping plate I5, so that the outer walls thereof will abut the edges I93: of blade I6 beyond the tongues I8. Y

In the tongues I8 are formed small openings 20 to receive the registering studs I2 projecting up- 50 wardly from the blade-supporting plate I0.

It is of some importance that these openings 20 should be in the tongues I8 and not in some other part of the blade I6 as this would prevent the use of a blade with the tongues I8 dispensed with. 55

The studs I2 extend upwardly above the face of the plate I suificiently to facilitate the registering of the blade I6 on the plate Ill when the parts of the razor are being assembled.

These studs I2 will register the blade I6 when placed upon the supporting-plate I 0 until the clamping plate I5 has been superimposed upon the blade. I6 and forced toward the plate II] in order to flex the blade I6;

The clamping plate I5 is provided with two holes 2I to receive the ends of studs I2 and also has the usual guard teeth 22.

The blade I6 has two longitudinal knife edges 23 as is common with most safety razor blades and is thin enough to flex readily when clamped between the plates I0 and I5.

The blade I6 has centrally disposed therein a cylindrical opening 24.

The socket II in the blade support II]. is provided with a bayonet slot 25 formed therein, one portion 25a of this bayonet slot 25 being inclined as shown in Fig. 10.

A handle26 is provided with a shank 21 which is insertable through the openings 24, 241', into the-socket II and has a projection 28 thereon adapted toenter the bayonet slot 25.

When the shank 21 of the handle 26 hasbeen inserted into the bayonet slot 25 a rotation of said handle will force the clamping plate I5 toward the blade-supporting plate I0 and flex the blade I6, at the same time bending down the tongues I8 into the inclined depressions I3 of the plate Ill.

The inclined depressions I3, ifdesired, could be formed in the plate I5 and the projections [4 formed on the blade-supporting plate ID without affecting the principles of the invention althoughbetter results are obtained by'forming the depressions in the supporting plate I 0.

When a new blade I6 is to be used it is placed upon the plate I 0 with the-studs I2 extending through the openings 20in the tongues I8 of said blade, thesestuds I2 being the only means of registeringthe blade upon its supporting plate. 7

The guard'plate I5 is then placed upon the 45 blade I6 with the studs I2 disposed in the holes 2I in said guard plate. 7

The shank 21 of handle 26' isthen passed through the opening 241- in the guard plate I5 and through the opening 24 in the blade I6 and is inserted into the socket II, the projection 23.

on the shank coacting with the bayonet slot 25. The enlarged head 33 of the handle 26 will bear on the upper face of the guard plate I5 and when the handle 26 is turned causing the projection 2a to travelalong the inclined portion 25a: of said slot 25, the plate I5 will beforced toward the plate I0 causing the blade I6 to be flexed and the projections I4 during this'operation will bend the tongues I8 downwardly into i the depressions l3. H

Owing tothe inclination of the portion 251: of the slot 25, the lug 28 on shank 2'! of handle 26 coacting with said slot will lock the handle to said plate I I1 and prevent accidental displacement therefrom. I I

Instead of the bayonet slot 25 in thesocket II, said socket Il may be threaded to receive athreaded shank. 21. p 7

The shank 21' is providedwith an enlargedcylindrical portion 211: which. fits the hole 24.1: in theguard plate I5.

The handle is made in two parts, the inner part 26 having. near'its-outer end a lug 29 which g5 enters into a bayonetslot'30 formed in an outer tubular member 3| movable endwise of the inner part 26.

When this outer tubular member 3| has been moved outwardly on the inner part 26 until the lug 29 on the latter has reached the end of the bayonet slot 30, a quarter turn of the tubular member 3I will lock the two parts together, the part 303: of said bayonet slot being wedge-shaped, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting the walls thereof to impinge upon the lug 29.

The outer end of the tubular member 3I is provided with a weighted knob 32 of greater diameter than the tubular member 3|.

When the handle is extended the full length a greater leverage is secured which makes the razor much easier to operate, the extended handle being of greater length than the width of the hand of the operator.

With such a long handle weighted at its outer end a better balance of the razor is obtained.

It has been found that a better shave is obtained by the use of a razor which has-such an extended balanced handle than it has been able to obtain by the ordinary safety razor with a short handle.

The handle 26 has at its inner end an enlarged head 33 closing the opening 241: in guard plate I5 and bearing upon the outer face of said DlateI5.

It will be notedthat the blade I6 constructed as described cannotbe used in blade holders now in common use andmust be used'only-on'the' holder herein shown-and described; I

It is also obvious that none of the blades now on the market can be used on the holder embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

As the type of blade herein shown must always be'used on the type of holder herei'n shown, the interests of the manufacturers of saidliolder will be protected as other manufacturers cannot make for said holder cheap blades of inferiormaterial which ifused'would create a prejudice'againstthe holderitself.

Naturally manufacturers of a good 'safetyrazor holder desire that there'should be used therewith only bladesof superior qualityn'iade by them.- selves, and by'means of the present invention this desired result may be obtained. t

It is believed that the operation 'and'many advantages of the invention will be understood 'without further description.

Having thus described'myinvention, 1 claim:

1. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member having blade registering projections thereon and provided at" opposite ends with inclined depressions, a blade-clamping member having inclined projections fitting said inclined depressions, means for forcing said members 'together to fiex the blade, and a flexible blade having at opposite ends parallel slits forming tongues adapted to be forced into said depressions by said inclined projections, said inclined projections, depressions and tongues being of equal width:

2. A safety razor comprising a blade-support ing member ha'vingblade registering studs thereon and provided atopposite ends with inclined depressions, a blade-clamping member having inclined-projections fitting said inclined depressions, means for forcing said members together to flex the blade, and a flexible blade having at opposite ends parallel slits forming tongues adapted to be forced into said depressions'by said inclined projections, said tongues having openings therein .to' receive said studs. 1

3, A safety razor comprising a blade-support ing member having blade registering projections thereon and provided at opposite ends with inclined depressionsjsaid member having a centrally disposed socket, a blade-clamping member having inclined projections fitting said inclined depressions, means for-forcing said members together to 'flex the blade," a flexible blade'having at opposite ends parallel slits forming tongues adapted to beforc'ed into said depressions by said inclined projections, and a handle having a shank inserted into said socket and secured to said bladesupporting memberj V 4. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member having-blade registering projections thereon and provided at opposite ends with inclined-depressions, said member having a centrally dis-posed socket, a blade-clampingmemb'er having inclined projections fitting said inclined depressions, a flexible blade having at opposite 0 ends parallel slits forming tongues adapted to be forced'into said depressions by-said inclined projections, and a handle having a shank insertable into said socket and so connected thereto that by the rotation of said handle said members will be forced together and Hex the blade.

5. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member having blade registering projections thereon, said member having a centrally disposed socket, a'blad'e-clamping member, and a handle having a shank insertable'into said socket and secured therein-by a projectionon said shank extending into a bayonet slot formed in said socket whereby said members maybe forced together by the rotation of said handle.

'6. A safety-razor-comprising a blade-supporting member having blade registering means thereon and provided at-opposite ends with inclined depressions, said member having a centrally disposed socket, a blade-clamping member having 40 inclined projections fitting said inclined depressions, a flexible blade having at opposite ends tongues adapted to be forced into said depressions by said inclined projections, and a rotatable handle having a shank insertable into and so connected with said socket that by the rotation of said handle said members may be forced toward each other and flex the blade.

I. A safety razor comprising a blade-supporting member having blade registering means thereon and provided with oppositely disposed inclined depressions, a blade-clamping member having inclined projections to coact with said inclined depressions, means for forcing said members together to flex a blade, and a flexible blade having oppositely disposed tongues adapted to be forced into said depressions by said inclined projections, said inclined projections, depressions and tongues being of equal width.

8. A safety razor blade of the thin flexible type adapted to be clamped between relatively movable members comprising a body portion of substantially rectangular shape and having cutting edges extending longitudinally along two opposite sides thereof, said body portion having spaced slots extending inwardly from each end thereof to define between them two narrow tongue members of a width not substantially greater than onethird of the width of the blade normally occupying the plane of the remainder of the blade and adapted to be flexed out of the plane of the blade by one of said members for effecting positioning of the blade with respect to the other of said members, the blade being centrally apertured and. said tongues being apertured.

9. A safety razor blade of the thin flexible type adapted to be clamped betweenrelatively movable members of a holder in a' position of transverse curvature for shaving, and comprising a normally flat body portion sharpened at a longitudinal edge and. having in the sameplane with said body portion normally alined tongueswith parallel sides the outer ends of which are adapted to be bent downwardly at slight angle to the body portion of the blade when the blade is clamped between said movable 'members, said tongues having a length substantially equal to the width thereof 'and side s'which are parallel for their entire length and are adapted to register with parallel side wallsof a depression in one of said movable members.

10. A safety razor blade of the thin' flexible type adapted to be clamped between relatively movable members of a holder in a position of transverse curvature for shaving, and comprising a normally flat body portion sharpened at a'long'itudinal edge and having in the same plane with said body portion normally alinedtongues having throughout their entire length-parallel sides and the outer ends of which are adaptedto be bent at slight angle to the body portionofthe blade into depressions of equal width in one of said movable members'when the blade is clamped between said movable members said tonguesbeing provided with openings therein so positioned as to receive oppositely disposed blade registering members of the same diameter throughout and said tongues having alength substantially equal to the width thereof; 4 v l '11. A safety razor blade of the thin flexible type adapted to be clamped between relatively movable members of a holder in a positionof transverse curvature for shaving, and comprising a normally flat body portion sharpened at alongitudinal edge and having parallel to said edge spaced slits extending inwardly from the ends of said blade and forming normally alined tongues in the same plane as said body portion and adapted to be bent at slight angle to the body portion of the blade when the blade is clamped between said movable members, said tongues having for their entire length parallel straight sides and a length substantially equal to the width thereof.

12. A safety razor blade of the thin flexible type adapted to be clamped between relatively movable members and comprising a normally flat body portion of substantially rectangular shape and having cutting edges extending longitudinally along two opposite sides thereof, said body portion having spaced parallel slits extending inwardly from each end thereof to define between them two narrow alined tongues in the same plane as said body portion and adapted to be flexed out of the plane of said body portion by flat inclined surfaces on one of said members for effecting positioning of the blade in depressions in the other of said members, said tongues and depressions being of substantially the same width. 13. A safety razor blade of the thin flexible type adapted to be clamped between relatively movable members and comprising a normally flat body portion of substantially rectangular shape and having cutting edges extending longitudinally along two opposite sides thereof, said body portion having spaced parallel slits extending inwardly from each end thereof to define between them two narrow alined tongues in the same plane as said body portion and adapted to be flexed out of the plane of the blade by inclined flat faces of projections on one of said members for effecting positioning of the blade in depresa aasa sions intthe other of said members, said tongues anddepressions being of substantially the same width, said body portion being centrally apertured and said tongues being apertured at their 15 inner ends. 14. A safety razor blade of the thin flexible typeadapted to be clamped between relatively movable members and comprising a normally fiat body portion of substantiallyrectangular shape .10 and havingcutting edges extending longitudinally along two opposite sidesthereof, said body portion having. spaced ,parallel slits extending .inwardly from each end thereof to define between them two narrow alined tongues in-the same 15 plane as said body portion andadapted to be flexed out of the plane of said body portion by one of said members for effecting positioning of the blade in depressionsin the other of said mem bers, said tongues and depressions being of sub- -20 stantiallythe same width,the body of'the blade being simultaneously fiexed by said members in adifierent plane. I

:15. A-asafetyrazortblade of the thin flexible type, adapted v to .be clamped between relatively '25 movable members and comprising avnormally flat body portion of substantially rectangular shape and having cutting edges extending longitudi nallyr along twooppos'ite sides thereof, said body portion having spaced parallel slitsextending in- 30 wardlyfrom veach end thereof to define between them two narrow alined tongues, in the same plane as saidbody portion and with parallel 'straight sides for their entire length, the body of said blade and said tongues being adapted to 5 becflexed simultaneously in .difierent' planes .by themovement of said members relatively to each other,

3: 16. A safety razor-blades of'the thin flexible type adapted to be clamped between relatively movable members and comprising, a normally fiat body portion of substantially; rectangular shape and havingcutting edges extending longitudi- 5 nally along two opposite sides thereof, said body portion havingformed near oppositeends thereof and in .the same plane therewith elongated tongues with parallel sidesdisconnected at their outer ends ,from. saidbody portion and adapted ,10 to' be flexed out of the plane .of said bodyportion by one of said members for positioning ofthe bladein depressions'in the other or said members, saidtongues and depressions being of substantiallyth-e same widthfor theirentire length, and ;;15 the body portion of 1 said blade being adapted to be flexed in a different plane by the relative movement of said movable membersv 17...-. Atsafety razor blade of the thin flexible type adapted to beclamped between relatively l mov-. 2 able members and: comprising a normally fiat bodyportionof substantially rectangular shape and having cutting edges extending longitudi nally along twol opposite sidesthereof, said, body portion having formed near oppositeqends thereof 212 and; ..the;ysame plane therewith elongated tongues with parallel sides disconnected attheir outerf ends from said body portionand adapted to;be flexed out of the plane of said body portion bybone of said members for positioning of the blade; indepressions in the otherof said members said tongues and depressions .being of substantially thesamewidthfor their-entire length, and the body portionof'said bladebeing adapted .tobe =flexedin a different-1 plane by the vrelative r movement of said movable-members. 1 CLARENCE J MCKENZIE.- 

